Dana's Picks

The fact that this book tries to hide the identity of two of its narrator makes it amazing and the fact Mary E. Pearson pulls it off is just amazing. If I was going to include all ten of my favorites from this year you bet The Heart of Betrayal would be on here as well. I loved the sequel just as much as the first, but the way the first is written is what puts in this top five.

I read this book mostly on a car ride to New Hampshire and in my hotel room. I just felt so connected to this story and these characters. It was so touching and made me cry. Heather Demetrios is definitely an auto-buy author and this was even better than Something Real.

There were so many wonderful things about this book. From the writing, to the illustrations, to the sheer beautifulness of the story; I just simply fell in love. I can't believe that this was Nicola Yoon's debut. I am ready to buy whatever she writes next!

I was lucky enough to get this arc at BEA and boy was waiting on line for hours worth it. This book was fantastic and I am dying for the sequel. I think a reread is in order because I need to experience this world again. I am planning on attending the launch event in NYC, anyone else?

I binge read this whole series during #SummerofSeries back in July. I wasn't a huge fan of Grave Mercy, but I was dedicated to completing the series a month challenge so I read Dark Triumph. This book was beyond anything I expected. It was dark and action packed. I loved this romance. I just adored all of the characters in this one and loved how flawed they all were. If you were kind of meh about Grave Mercy you have to give Dark Triumph a chance because it is amazing.

Hannah's Picks (in NPO)

This was such a surprise for me! I started reading it because I love dance books and movies, but this really knocked me off my feet. The story is told through difference characters's eyes and each voice is so different and so very flawed that they felt real. I usually find a lot of faults with contemporary but this one had me hooked. I can't wait for the sequel, though this would have worked perfectly as a standalone too!

You're all probably tired of me talking about how much I love retellings, but I absolutely loved Hodge's take on Little Red Riding Hood. It's dark, intricate and seductive and one of the rare books to actually surprise me on several occasions. I'm always going to love a book that can do that! I really liked this for the well-done love triangle too <3

Couldn't really get away with not putting this one on here. Maas is an autobuy author for me (even though I'm still chomping through the last Throne of Glass novels...they are so biiiiiiig) and when I heard she was writing a Beauty and the Beast meets East O' The Sun, West O' The Moon retelling, I was desperate for it. I read through this is in a day when it came out and loved it. Beautiful writing, amazing characters, gripping fantasy plot...what more could you want?

Ah, my 'grown up' entry. I had to put Playthings on here because it ambushed my emotions. It was written by my creative writing lecture, and I ended up reading and reviewing it for the school paper (which is always a weird experience...knowing that the person you're reviewing will definitely see it AND talk to you about it on Friday afternoon if they're not happy about it!). I was expecting it to be a hard read but in the end I could not put it down. It was painful and emotional and one of the only books this year to make me cry. It's not YA by any stretch, but I thoroughly recommend it.

I hear so many mixed reviews about Bone Gap but I absolutely loved it. I'm excited to read more from Ruby! It's like nothing I've ever read before. Yes it's totally weird and bizarre and you don't really know what's going on sometimes but the characters are well written and real. Most of all I love the strange feeling I got when reading this book; it's atmospheric and you start to feel like the magic gaps it speaks of are all around you.

Fabulous choices! The Kiss of Deception and Everything, Everything both made my list too. And I'll Meet You There made mine last year :) I missed the line for Truthwitch because of an unfortunate Uber situation, but I can pre-order it, and I really probably should, soon! I also really enjoyed ACOTAR, and NEED to read Bone Gap after seeing it on so many lists! Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight